The Shortcut - Internet Explorer

The Shortcut - Internet Explorer

The Shortcut - Internet Explorer is a handy little desktop widget that you can add to the dock of Yahoo! Widget Engine. It gives you quick access to Internet Explorer, which is super convenient! Instead of going through the usual steps like the quick launch menu, desktop, or Start Menu, you can just click on this widget and get right to browsing.

Is Yahoo! Widget Engine Still Available?

Now, here’s something to keep in mind: the Yahoo! Widget Engine project has been discontinued for a while now. But don’t worry! You can still download the software framework if you want to use these widgets that are optimized for it. While the original developer's site doesn’t have them available anymore, you can find them on Softpedia.

How to Install The Shortcut - Internet Explorer

Getting started with The Shortcut - Internet Explorer is a breeze. Just open up the file you downloaded and follow the prompts—assuming you've already got Yahoo! Widget Engine installed. Once it's all set up, you'll see a tiny frame with the IE logo pop up in your dock.

Using The Widget

When you click on that logo, it should launch Internet Explorer right away. If for some reason it doesn’t work at first, no stress! You can head over to the settings panel of the widget and adjust IE's full path if it was installed somewhere else other than what was set up by default.

Customizing Your Experience

You know what's cool? You can actually set this widget up to run any application—not just Internet Explorer. The gadget mainly recognizes executable files rather than specifically identifying web browsers. However, keep in mind that while you can change what app opens, you can't swap out that icon!

Your Options with Yahoo! Widget Engine

The Yahoo! Widget Engine offers its own set of options for all widgets. You can make your window stay on top of everything else or let it hang below other active windows; there's even an option to adjust its transparency. Plus, if you'd like your widget not to respond to mouse events or allow dragging around, that's possible too!